I just recently came across an old .22 caliber rifle stock (just the wood stock, nothing else). So I decided to start making a steampunk rifle or shotgun out of it. I am going for a western style inventor/marksman type of character. Nothing to sci-fi, just basic old steam power look.

My only dillema is that I cannot find any brass tubing in the size I would need. I can however get plenty of copper piping. Visually, I would rather use brass than copper, but does anyone think it would really matter?

I would end up with 3 different colored metals on the rifle in the end. I am planning on using some brass and normal stainless steel for some of the outer parts.

This will be my first steampunk attempt at anything, so I figured I would get some people's thoughts.

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Personally I think there's an over-reliance on brass in a lot of Steampunk. Copper is a beautiful metal as well, and doesn't disrupt the sepia tones, if that's what you're going for. I think a gun with three different metals on it could look really cool, especially if you're able to shine them all up to the same shine level (or alternately weather them down to the same point). It'll be much more unique and visually interesting than all brass, IMO.

Skeff that looks pretty cool so far. I really like the mixture of metals you used. While most people do seem to swear by brass for steampunk, I like the idea of mixed metals. I have some designs I'm working on for a few friends that will involve brass and antiqued silvers, so I like where you are going^^ Steampunk is a bit more open to interpretation, so it's easier to sway between all the materials I think...unless some people are just dead set in their ways^^

Looks neat so far! :] I rather like the mixture of metals better than just one solid brass covering. For the character you have, it seems like it would make more sense that his weapon would be sort of ramshackle and makeshift rather than machine-made. It looks more one-of-a-kind this way.